Pipestem couplers



Dec. 20, 1960 s. P. CHERNOCK PIPESTEM COUPLERS Filed March 5, 1959INVENTOR. JTEPHENP CHE/PNOK.

B Y M United States Patent PIPESTEM COUPLERS Stephen P. Chernock, FlaxMill Lane, Milford, Conn.

Filed Mar. 3, 1959, Ser. No. 796,834

2 Claims. (Cl. 131-225) The invention relates to pipestem couplers of ageneral type which has been used for generations in smokers pipes toform a detachable tight joint between the pipestem and mouthpiece, sothat the latter can readily be detached and reattached as is frequentlydesired in service, for example when the stem is to be cleaned or a newmouthpiece substituted. For many years the objection has persisted thatafter substantial use, which involves twisting the parts duringinsertion and withdrawal of the mouthpiece, the engagement between theinterior wall of the stem and coupler becomes loose, so that themouthpiece is no longer held tightly and securely in place.

The present invention aims primarily to provide a pipestem coupler ofthe above type which will largely eliminate the above mentionedlooseness of the joint between the stem and mouthpiece after continueduse, and yet afiord facility in the attachment and detachment of themouthpiece when desired. Further objects and advantages of the inventionwill be in part obvious and in part specifically referred to in thedescription hereinafter contained which taken in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings, discloses a pipestem coupler of preferred formand which is constructed to operate in accordance with the invention;the disclosure however should be considered as merely illustrative ofthe invention in its broader aspects. In the drawings Fig. 1 is aperspective view of the end portion of the coupler with which theinvention is primarily concerned;

Fig. 2 is a central longitudinal section taken through such end portion;

Fig. 3 is a cross-section taken on line 3--3 of Fig. 2 looking in thedirection of the arrows; and

Fig. 4 is a side view partially in section showing the coupler inoperative position between the stern and mouthpiece of a pipe.

Referring first to Fig. 4, the pipestem 1, having a cylindrical hole 2running therethrough, is shown as detachably connected to the mouthpiece3 by means of a tubular coupler 4 having a generally cylindrical outersurface. The coupler 4 may be understood as forced tightly into themouthpiece 3 and provided with a knurled portion 5 engaging within themouthpiece, in such manner that in normal use the coupler 4 is heldrigidly in position in the mouthpiece, but is movable both axially andangularly with respect to the stem 1. A disc-like flange 6 may beunderstood as fixed to the coupler 4, and engaging against the end ofthe stem 1 when the parts are assembled. The end portion of the couplerwhich engages within stem 1 may also be understood as provided with anydesired number of slots 7, the metal of the coupler being somewhatspringy so that these slots ease the insertion and withdrawal of thecoupler to some extent, while still being intended to maintain a tightjoint. The parts as thus far described may be understood as ofpreviously known or appropriate construction.

In accordance with the present invention the side walls 8 (Figs. 1-3) ofthe slots 7 are provided with outer portions 9 which flare outwardlyaway from each other to meet the generally cylindrical peripheral wall10 of the coupler, at an obtuse angle. These outwardly flaring por tions9 may be formed after the slots 8 have been cut, for example bymachining or grinding, and it is not necessary that they lie in a plane,since they may be somewhat rounded if desired. I have found that theprimary cause of the above-mentioned looseness between the coupler andthe stem after continued withdrawal and insertion of the coupler, is thewear on the wall of the hole 2 in the pipestem by engagement with theouter edge portions of the side walls 8 of the slots as heretoforeconstructed for many decades, and that such wear and looseness islargely eliminated by providing the outwardly flaring outer portions 9for such side walls, as above described. The coupler is usually twistedinto and out of place, and it is necessary that the slotted portions ofthe coupler bear tightly against the wall of the hole 2 through thestem, a forced fit being usually provided so that the slots 7 areslightly narrowed during the process of inserting but the peripheralcylindrical wall of the slotted portion tending to spring outwardly whenforced into place, so as to bear tightly against the interior wall ofthe stem.

I prefer also to provide the peripheral wall of the coupler with achannel 11 which intersects the end walls 12 of the slots 7, so that theouter edge portions of said end walls lie inside of the generalcylindrical surface of the coupler. Accordingly any sharp outer edges ofthese end walls 12 cannot engage the interior wall of the pipestemduring either axial or angular movement of the coupler. This furtherrelieves the interior wall of the stem from wear during insertion orwithdrawal of the coupler.

I prefer that this channel 11 shall completely encircle the coupler, tocause the slotted portions of the coupler which are springy as abovementioned, to flex more easily when inserted into the hole 2 of thestem, and nevertheless maintain tight engagement with the interior wallof the stem. The end of the coupler which penetrates into the stem maybe also tapered as indicated at 13 (Figs. 1 and 2) to ease the insertionof the coupler into the stem, without undue wear.

While the invention has been disclosed as carried out by a pipe couplerof the above described specific form, it should be understood thatchanges may be made therein without departing from the invention in itsbroader aspects, within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a smokers pipe, the combination comprising a pipestem having acylindrical hole formed therethrough, a mouthpiece for such pipe, apipestem coupler secured to said mouthpiece for insertion in such holethereby detachably to interconnect said mouthpiece to said pipestem,such pipestem coupler comprising a tubular member having a slottherethrough thereby forming a slotted wall of such member, such slothaving opposite sides, such slot extending from one end of said tubularmember part way along the length thereof, the outer portions of theopposite sides of said slot flaring radially outwardly away from eachother to meet the peripheral wall of said tubular member at an obtuseangle, the material of said tubular member being springy and the outerdiameter of said tubular member being substantially equal to butslightly greater than the inner diameter of the hole in said pipestemwhereby a friction fit between the periphery of said tubular member andthe inner surfaces of said pipestem defining said hole is obtained of asatisfactory degree to hold said pipestem and mouthpiece together whensaid tubular member is inserted into said hole in the pipestem, suchslot being slightly narrowed as a result of inserting said tubularmember in the hole, the end of said tubular member which penetrates intothe hole in said pipestem being tapered to ease the insertion of suchmember into said pipestem without undue wear-of the walls of such hole,said outwardly flaring side wall portions of said slot of the tubularmember preventing wear of the wall of the hole due to action of sharpslot edges;

I end of said slot to cause the outer portion of the inner extremitiesof such wall to lie inside the peripheral surface of said tubularmember.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,051,427 McCluskey Jan. 28, 1913 FOREIGN PATENTS 7,254 France Apr. 10,1907 67,559 Norway Mar. 13, 1944 taut

